Full and Partial Dentures

Prosthetic Tooth Treatment (Prosthetics)

Shape, colour, or position deformations in teeth may cause aesthetical problems. Substance loss in teeth due to an advanced caries weakening the tooth or an impact on tooth cannot be treated by a filling. Tooth not erupting or extracted for medical reasons creates toothless gaps in mouth. In addition to aesthetic issues, these gaps may cause:

• Eating disorders
• Speech disorders (mispronouncing letters)
• Psychological problems (shyness, low self-esteem, trying not to smile)
• Even worse oral health (dislocated, eroded, or decayed teeth)
• Jaw joint pain, voice and movement disorders (temporomandibular joint  disorder)
• General health disorders (stomach problems caused by insufficient food grinding, malnutrition)

Prosthetic tooth treatment is a dentistry discipline providing solutions to aesthetical and functional treatment and rehabilitation requirements through science and art.

Moveable Prostheses

In cases where a number of teeth are missing and abuttal teeth incapable of bearing the load, or when missing teeth gaps do not have teeth on one side, moveable prostheses are used. These are called partial prosthesis if there are abuttal teeth, and total prosthesis if there are no abuttal teeth and prosthesis sits on tissue surface. Partial prosthesis is a tooth and tissue supported prosthetic application. Clasps are mounted on the tooth root under the curved bit of gum for tooth support. Tissue surface the prosthetic sits on provides tissue support; thus, applied force extends to the teeth and tissue.

Partial Moveable Prostheses

In cases where a number of teeth are missing and abuttal teeth incapable of bearing the load, or when missing teeth gaps do not have teeth on one side, partial moveable prostheses are used. These are tooth and tissue supported prosthetic applications. Clasps are mounted on the tooth root under the curved bit of gum for tooth support. Tissue surface the prosthetic sits on provides tissue support. This way, applied force is extends to teeth and tissue.

Precision Attachment Prostheses

Clasps of moveable partial prostheses can cause discomfort, especially for front teeth. Besides, the force applied to unhealthy teeth by clasps may cause loss of relevant teeth. In such cases, the force on one tooth may be extended by connecting teeth by crowns. Metal clasps may cause damage and erosion on surrounded teeth. Precision attachment prostheses is a type of prosthesis, where toothless gaps are supported with moveable prosthesis, and shape, colour, and position irregularities of current teeth are fixed with fixed prosthesis.

Fixed Prostheses

This type of prosthetics is based on exact models made with measurements taken during preparation period, and finished piece is fixed in place.

Pros;

• Prosthesis is concealed, and cannot be removed by the patient
• Generally more natural and aesthetic than moveable prosthetic
• Provides better chewing

No prosthetic material extending behind palate or under tongue

Cons

• There will be bone loss around lost natural teeth
• Healthy adjacent teeth need to be prepared as abuttal teeth
• Increased gum disorder potential
• Possibility of long-term aesthetical problems, such as gum recession
• More difficult to preserve oral hygiene, as area around the bridge provides excellent opportunity for bacteria to accumulate
• Possible bad breath
• Teeth under the bridge or their roots may decay

Total Prosthesis

When there are no teeth left in mouth to serve as abuttal, force transfer, support and binding are provided by securing the prosthetic onto tissue surface. Fully tissue-supported prosthetic applications are called total prosthetics.

Overdentures

When patient has askew, crooked, or long teeth incompatible with prosthetic, they may prefer to get telescopic crowns on top of one another or precision attachment instead of losing these teeth. This procedure, where abutment tooth stays within the denture, and moveable prosthetic is mounted on top of it, is called overdentures. Roots of your teeth staying inside your mouth will prevent bone loss, and preserve in-mouth sensation.